Apparatus for separating liquids from solids.



NO. 732,720. PATENTED 31mm, 19031 H. DUNCAN & R. R." SHBRRIFF. I

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS.

I APPLIOATION FILED JULY 22, 1902.

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' PATBNTED JULY 7, 1903. H. DUNCAN & R. R. SHERRIPF.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1902.

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APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 22, 1902. N0 MODEL 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED I STATES Patented. July '7, 190a.

PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH DUN CAN AND ROBERT RANKIN SHERRIFF, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

APPARATUS FOR .SEPARA' I'ING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 732,720, dated July 7,1903.

Application filed July 22, 1902.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HUGH DUNCAN and ROBERT RANKIN SHERRIFF, subjects ofthe King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and'lreland, residing at11 Ham pden Terrace, Mount Florida, Glasgow,and 26 Queen Square,Strathbungo, Glasgow, Scotland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Separating Liquids from Solids, (for whichapplications for patents have been made in GreatBritain, No. 26,667,dated December 31, 1901; in Transvaal February 4, 1902; in New SouthWales March 6, 1902; in Queensland March 8, 1902; in South AustraliaMarch 10, 1902, and in Western Australia March 18, 1902,) of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for separating the liquid from thesolid constituents of such mixtures as the slimes or tailings producedin milling gold-bearing ores.

It consists of a separating plant comprising two or more machinesspecially organized and arranged to convey the mixture over aproperly-supported endless band of filtercloth, through whichthe liquidcontaining the precious metal in solution is drawn 01f by suction into avacuum box or boxes and thence to a tank, the solid matters beingdelivered into a washing and mixing-chamber, from which, after treatmenttherein, it is delivered onto a second filterband and the liquidcontaining any residue of the precious metal is drawn off by suction,the residual solids being deposited in a bin or other receptacle. p

The invention also com prisesim provements in details of the machines,such as means for stretching out the filter-band transverselydu ring itstraverse across the machine and for releasing it upon completion of suchtraverse, and theprovision of an endless band of wirecloth or likematerial traversed under and along with the filter-band and interposedbetween the latter and the vacuum-box to properly support thefilter-cloth and prevent undue wear and strain upon it by the action ofthe suction apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 1 are top plan views of themachine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the construction Serial No. 116,574. (No model.)

As shown by the drawings, the improvedseparating plant is composed oftwo machines X and Y, which are alike in construction and operation, onebeing situated at a higher level than, the other and having a washingand mixing chamber interposed, so that the solid residue left afterextraction of the liquid in the mixture carried through the firstmachine is washed and mixed with water with or without the addition ofchemical reagents in the mixing-chamber, and the overflowing mixture issubjected to treatment for separation of theliquid in the secondmachine. Each machine X and Y comprises a framing A of convenientconstruction for carrying the driving-gear and other parts and on whichare mounted a series of rollers for driving and guiding an endless band,B of filter-cloth, extending horizontally over the framing, the saidband being spread transversely at the entering and over Spreaders C, sothat its edges are brought within engaging clips or like securingdevices carried by or forming part of endless chains D D, passing aroundpulleys E on rotating shafts E at each'side of the machine. By theaction of cams or 'disksF on each of the shafts at one end of themachine the clips d are automatically opened up to admit the edges ofthe band, on which they close, as hereinafter described, to hold itstretched as it travels, and by a second set of cams or disks F at theopposite end of the machine the clips are again automatically opened upto release the edges of the cloth. From the delivery e'nd'of the machinethe endless filter-band B passes around a guide-roller G and thencedownward a d through a trough or water-box H, where it is washed by arevolving beater I and passes to a pair of nipping rolls or squeezers Jand thence back to the entering end of the machine, suitableguide-rollers being interposed. In its traverse the band D passes over avacunm'box orsuctionchamber K, extending close on the full width of theband and horizontally under it, this box being connected by piping Ktoavacuum-puinp 10. The vacuum-box K, as shown to a larger scale atFigs. 5 and 6, is

specially constructed to avoid drawing off the solution, along with air,to the vacuumpump, for which purpose the outlet 7t to the said pump istrapped, or formed with an up wardly-projecting rim over which issituated a baffle-disk having drain-pipes k led into the trap 70 whichcommunicates with the outlet 70 leading to a pump which draws off thesolution or liquid. Across the upper face of the vacuum-box K guide-barsk are fitted to support the endless band L, of wire cloth or gauze,which is interposed between the filter-band B and the vacuum-box. Thewiregauze band L is carried by rotating pulleys or sprocket-wheels M andis composed of a series of frames Z, attached to jointed links Z,forming a continuous chain on each side,

the wire-gauze being attached by rivet-pins Z or like means to theframes. Z. The wiregauze band L is preferably arranged to travel at thesame speed as the filter-band B to avoid friction, and it serves tosupport the portion of the band B which for the time being is subjectedto the action of the vacuum in passing over the vacuum-box.

The slimes or other mixture from which the liquid is to be extracted isfed to the traveling band B through a feeder-box N, which serves todistribute it evenly, a pair of decklestraps 0, carried upon pulleys 0',being provided to prevent the mixtu re passing over the edges of theband, and as the material is carried by the band over the vacu uni-boxthe liquid contained in it is drawn throughthefiltercloth into said box,from which it drains to the solution pump or tank, leaving a cake of drymaterial on the surface of the band, which is removed at the deliveryend by a scraper P and drops into a washing and mixing tank Q. In thistank the solid matter is washed and mixed with water, the action beingfacilitated by means of a rotating shaft Q, extending through the tankand furnished with beaterarms Q From this washingtank the mixtureoverflows through a duet R to a fenderbox N on the second machine Y,where the operation of separating the liquid from the solid constituentsof the mixture is repeated, and the solid residue is removed from theband B of this machine by a scraper P and falls into a residue-bin S.

The clips (1, which engage the edges of the band B and serve to secureit, are, as shown at Figs. 53 and 4, each fitted on a link of theendless chain 1), which is composed of a series of the links jointedtogether, each clip being pivoted on a pin (1' on an overhanging arm ofthe link and being formed with a bearing and gripping heel (P, fromwhich project toe-pieces (Z normally entering notches l thin the sole ofthe chain-link D. The clip d tilts to allow the edges of the band B toenter freely, and so long as the toe-pieces (1 rest on the fabric theheel d is a short dis tance above the sole of the link D and the clipsdo not engage the fabric; butimmediately the fabric is drawn clear ofthe toe-pieces, so that they are free to drop into the notches d ,..theedge of the fabric is gripped and held by the heel d between it and thesole of the link D. The pivoted clips are opened up by the action ontheir upper ends of the cams or disks F and F to admit the edges of theband B as it passes toward the vacuum-box and to release the edges afterit has passed over the vacuum-box.

Having now described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A machine for separating liquids from solids comprising incombination a framing and gear carrying and traversing an endless bandof filter-cloth, automatic clip devices for securing the band, avacuum-box or suction-chamber located upon the under surface of saidband and an interposed endless band of wire cloth or gauze arranged tosupport and travel with the filter-band substantially as described.

2. In a machine for separating liquids from solids, the combination withan endless trav-- eling band, of filter-cloth of 'securingclipchainsarranged to automatically engage and release the edges of the cloth, avacuumbox or suction-chamber close beneath said band, and an interposedband or wire-gauze and guide-bars across the upper face of thevacuum-box to support the filter-band over the vacuum-box, substantiallyas described.

3. In apparatus for separating liquids from solids, the combination withan endless traveling band of filter-cloth, of securing clipchainsconstructed and arranged to automat ically engage and release the edgesof the cloth.

4. The combination with apparatus of the class set forth for separatingliquids from solids, of a traveling band of filter-cloth, a vacuum-boxlocated beneath said traveling band, an air-suction pump, asolution-pump, a pipe forming the outlet from the vacuumbox to theair-suction pump, an upwardlyprojecting rim on said pipe, a bafilediskover said rim, a trap formed around said outletpipe, drain-pipesconnecting said trap and said baffle-disk and an outlet from the trap tothe solution pump or tank, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twowitnesses.

HUGH DUNCAN. ROBERT RANKIN SHERRIFF.

Vfitnesses:

WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, WALLACE CRANSTON FAIRWEATHER.

